A series of biblical readings and prayers from David L. Miller, senior pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Naperville, IL. David is the former editor of The Lutheran magazine and Director of Spiritual Formation at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Monday, February 11, 2013

Today’s text

Psalm 32:10-11

Many are the heartachesof those separated from Love;Steadfast love abides with thosewho surrender their lives intothe hands of the Beloved.Be glad and rejoice, all you who walk along the path of truth!And shout for you, all you upright,of heart.

Reflection

Late Sunday afternoon. The day is soon spent, but well-spent
among your people, listening and loving, praying and singing.

Once more, I witnessed tears welling inthe eyes of those
facing threats to life and health, and I was hugged by grinning children who
know they are safe and treasured, their smiles a reminder of that grace we sought
in this sanctuary.

Sought and found, my Lord.

Dispersed from our Sunday gathering, we retire to living
rooms and feel the weariness of winter as an anemic February sun fades into
shades of gray.

Monday will soon be here, and our flagging energy seems
unequal to the task.

So I retreat to this quiet place where I listen in my heart
for your Heart, seeking that inner point of soul where the energy of your
ceaseless loving flows into me.

I surrender my weariness into your accepting arms and rest.
That is all I want, but I receive more.

A surge of joy and surprising energy lifts my heart and chases
off Sunday afternoon lethargy. Weariness is replaced by a smile of knowing that
there is enough for me here in this place and in this soul, enough for all of
us.

I feel connected. There is no separation from your love. The
influx of your constant loving stirs my body to a strength for life that shall
always be there for me, for you always are loving.

You are steadfast. So little do we understand this.

Nothing in our lives is steadfast and sure, certainly not
our physical resources on Sunday afternoons. Everything we know … and touch … and
are … withers and wanes, sooner or later. All that rises falls. Every flower
fades. It’s only a matter of time.

But not you. You are Steadfast Love.

You are a ceasless stream of grace that never runs dry; a
boundless love that is always enough for us, stirring that joy that lifts the
soul and makes us strong.

We come in weakness to you, Holy Love, seeking solace for
the fatigue that weighs our souls and shoulders. Feeling far from you, our
hearts grow cold, cynical and small.

But you never cease to pour the warm stream of your divine
blood into our veins that we may return to the joy and love and beauty we each
are, vessels of your life.

We want too little, Lord. I came to this place after moping
about on a lazy afternoon, wanting only to be held and comforted. But you filled
me with gladness and joy, the flow of your constant loving.